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1. Hike Bear Mountain

Hike, swim, or see the animals at Bear Mountain State Park.

2. Go for a Freshwater Swim

Dive into a freshwater lake at one of these nearby swimming holes.

3. Conquer SplashDown Beach

Float down the lazy river at SplashDown Beach, a popular water park in the Hudson Valley.

4. Head for The Shore

Hit the beach and the boardwalk amusements at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. It’s one of the closest Shore towns to the city where you can get the full, family-friendly Jersey Shore experience during a summer day trip from NYC. Drive a bit further to Atlantic City to check out the Island Water Park at the Showboat Hotel.

5. Go to a Nature Center

The Greenburgh Nature Center is one of our favorite nature centers in Westchester, and it has plenty of wild friends to meet, plus kids can romp on the natural playground made of wood and surrounded by boulders for climbing. There are plenty of gentle walking trails surrounding the grounds, too. So, pack a picnic to make a day of it.

6. Climb a Lighthouse

Long Island’s East End and North Fork offer some stunning options.

7. Float Splish Splash's Lazy River

Keep everyone cool at the 95-acre Splish Splash water park on Long Island's East End. A word of caution: Traffic to the Hamptons in the summer can, of course, be excruciating. The only way to avoid it is to go very early in the morning, which makes this full-size water park the perfect day trip. Turn it into an overnight with these hotel recommendations.

8. Visit an Animal Farm

Cozy up to the animals at Brookhollow’s Barnyard in North Jersey or one of these petting zoos near NYC.

9. See Large-Scale Art

Pack a picnic and spend the day among the outdoor art at the 500-acre Storm King Art Center or one of these other outdoor art destinations nearby.

RELATED: 25 Best Things To Do in Montauk with Kids

Explore Field Station: Dinosaurs just over the GW Bridge.

10. Play Paleontologist

Walk the grounds of Field Station: Dinosaurs in Overpeck County Park, just over the George Washington Bridge. Watch out for T. Rex at the end.

11. Go North to the Nutmeg State

Connecticut abounds with family-friendly summer fun in its state parks, nature centers, and charming waterfront towns

12. Spend a Day in Tarrytown

One of our favorite “rivertowns,” there's plenty of family-friendly fun in Tarrytown, from touring Lyndhurst Castle to strolling down Main Street, where you can find great restaurants and coffee shops. Treat the family to a few scoops of ice cream at Main Street Sweets.

13. Explore Another Hudson Valley Spot

Hop on the Metro-North to visit one of these other cute towns, including Beacon, New York, home to the famous large-scale art museum Dia Beacon.

14. Hit the Slopes at Mountain Creek

Mountain Creek is a sure bet for winter activities and summer excursions, when its water park is open for splashing fun, along with a bike park, zip line, and even a mountain coaster.

RELATED: Easy Family Day Trips on the Metro-North Train

There's tons of fun to be had at Playland Park in Rye. Photo by Anna Fader

15. Enjoy Old-School Amusements at Playland Park

Another Metro-North option? All aboard to Westchester's old-fashioned, but super fun, Playland Park. You can even hop a ferry straight to the park on select dates!

16. Explore the East End

See the undersea creatures at the Long Island Aquarium, and spend the rest of the day exploring the town of Riverhead, with its vineyards, beaches, and mini-train rides.

17. Experience Niagara Falls

Visit Niagara Falls to marvel at stunning waterfalls and explore the Buffalo area.

18. Build STEM Skills at the Liberty Science Center

If you haven’t yet checked out the Liberty Science Center, go now! It offers hands-on fun for all ages in an enormous multi-floor building in Liberty State Park. There are climbing structures to conquer, plus hands-on exhibits, and so much more for ages 2 and up.

19. Build Some Fun With Legos

Sure, you could visit the Legoland Discovery Center at Westchester's Ridge Hill or American Dream in New Jersey's Meadowlands, but for completely over-the-top, everything-is-awesome-fun, why not head to Legoland New York, the larger-than-life theme park in Goshen, New York.

RELATED: Summer Bucket List: 50 Things To Do in NYC for an Epic Summer

The beach, the boardwalk, and more fun await in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

20. Adventure to Asbury Park

Enjoy the beach at Asbury Park, sure, but there are plenty of on-shore entertainment options here, too, from boardwalk murals to great eats, music, and even a skate park.

21. Forget Fruit, Pick Flowers

Long Island's Lavender By The Bay comes alive with fragrant, beautiful blooms in mid-June. You can also find tons of flower farms in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. Pack some good shears for cutting and a good camera for colorful photo-ops.

22. Go for a Thrill Ride...

There are plenty of picks for amusement park thrills nearby, including the these top thrill rides and roller coasters at area theme parks.

23. ... Or a Wild Ride

The Six Flags drive-thru safari features a whopping 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes, and lions.

24. Go Country

Speaking of fairs, try the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, from Tuesday, August 20-Sunday, August 25, with rides, games, food, and animals. Or the Empire State Fair, from Friday, June 28-Sunday, July 14, which is one of Long Island's biggest summer fairs.

Rockefeller State Park has miles of trails to wander. Photo by Sara Marentette

25. Go for a Hike

We've got tons of family-friendly hiking picks, from the lovely state parks of the Hudson Valley to beach walks on Long Island and waterfall hikes in Northern Jersey.

26. Step Back in Time

Don your best princess or knight gear to take in the New York Renaissance Faire, which runs from Saturday, August 17-Sunday, October 6, with jousting, crafts, and more performances in New York’s Sterling Forest.

27. Explore a Historic Estate

We were blown away by the stunning panoramas and sweeping views at the Olana State Historic Site when we visited. It's easy to see why these vistas inspired Frederic Church's professional artistry.

28. Test Your Fear of Heights

We love a good zip line, adventure course, or ropes course to get the blood flowing. Conquer dozens of climbing challenges at the Palisades Climb Adventure inside the Palisades Center mall. A separate Sky Tykes course is geared toward kids under 48 inches. Or take the big kids for Hudson River views while climbing the outdoor aerial course at Spins Hudson in Peekskill.

29. Enjoy a Daycation

A day trip doesn't have to take you outside city limits. When was the last time you explored another borough? On our summer bucket list: visiting Staten Island including Snug Harbor, taking the ferry out to Governor's Island, exploring Manhattan's coolest green space, Little Island, and trekking out to Sunset Park to explore Brooklyn's Industry City.

RELATED: 7 Things To Do at Minnewaska State Park Preserve with Kids

Pick summer peaches at Alstede.

30. Hit the Farm

Pick your own blueberries and blackberries or even peaches. Plan to pick at a farm with a little agri-entertainment like these 10 New Jersey farms.

31. Hunt the Jersey Devil

Visit the mythical Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where you can learn local folklore, go for a hike, catch a fresh fish dinner, and visit the Popcorn Zoo.

32. Ferry Yourself Away

Catch a ferry to Fire Island to enjoy access to the car-free fun, clean beaches, and an old-time feeling. Of course, the ferry ride is part of the allure.

33. Explore Long Beach

Spread your blanket at Long Beach, Long Island, one of the easiest NYC-area beaches to get to via public transportation—just hop on the LIRR from Penn Station or the Flatbush Terminal. It feels like a real beach and is often less crowded than, say, Rockaway. It’s a quick walk to the sand from the train.

Search for fairies or a waterfall at the South Mountain Reservation.

34. Search for Fairies

Walk the fairy trail in New Jersey’s South Mountain Reservation, or explore this green space’s more commercial spots like the Turtle Back Zoo with lions, a train ride, a ropes course, mini golf, and even a destination-worthy playground.

35. Head for the Hills

The Pocono Mountains are close enough for a day trip and action-packed with family-friendly fun. Woodloch Pines is a great, all-inclusive family resort offering loads of activities if you want to extend your stay.

36. Ride a Bike

Tackle New York's spectacular 750-mile-long Empire State Trail, the nation’s longest multi-use trail. It runs from Manhattan up to the Canadian border and from Buffalo to Albany, with lots of family-friendly stops along the way.

Photos by the author except where noted. A version of this post was published in 2018; it is updated annually.